The Pocklington Parish Magazine

THE POCKLINGTON PARISH MAGAZINE

WELCOME TO All SAINTS CHURCH, POCKLINGTON

FEBRUARY 2018

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THE POCKLINGTON GROUP OF PARISHES

The Combined Benefices of Pocklington Wold and Londesborough Wold Ministry Team Clergy Revd Geoff Hollingsworth Vicar 302133 Vacant –House for Duty Assistant Curate with welcome assistance from the following retired clergy who have the Archbishop’s Permission To Officiate (PTO) Revd Shelagh Jones 01430 871612 Revd Les Slow 303888 Revd Tony Burdon 304290 Revd Pam Burdon 304290 Revd Canon Rodney Nicholson 01430 650271

Readers Mr Mike Bailey 01430 873318 Mrs Bronnie Broadhurst 307479 Mr David Rumbelow 306056 Mr Brian Snelson 302206 Mrs Pam Dean 303278 Mrs Barbara Myerscough (in training) 303331

Recognised Parish Assistants W = Worship P= Pastoral Mrs Liz Stott 01430 873361 W Dr Brian James 01377 288148 W Mrs Joy Hadley 306655 W/P Mrs Annie Harrison 01377 288070 W Mrs Freda Bailey 01430 873318 W/P Mrs Lyn Stanton 302073 P

Pastoral Team: Coordinator: Mrs Bronnie Broadhurst tel 307479 Mrs Lyn Stanton, Mr David Rumbelow, Mrs Joy Hadley, Revd Canon Rodney Nicholson Revd Shelagh Jones, Mrs Pam Dean

Parish Visitors: Pat Herbert, Sheila Waller, Annie Harrison, Louis Taylor, Frankie Taylor

Group Safeguarding Representative: Rev Shelagh Jones 01430 871612

Pocklington Deanery Synod Representatives:

Sue Woodcock and Delia Smith

Members of the Pocklington Parochial Church Council:

Hilary Slow, Barbara Myerscough, David Brown, Gina Campbell, Steve Campbell, Ian Ryder, Julie Ryder, Sue Currier, Louis Taylor, John Douglas, Kath Gilbank, Lyn Stanton

Pocklington Group of Churches Pastoral Team The Pastoral Team is available to visit the bereaved, those who are ill, the housebound, or anyone who would like someone to talk to .This is an important part of the Church’s ministry and mission but we can only visit those we know about. So if you, or anyone you know, would welcome a visit from a member of the church family, please contact us and we will arrange for a member of the Pastoral Team to visit.

Church Wardens: St Giles, Burnby Mr C Soukup 306154 Mr J Hewitt 302622

St Ethelburga, Gt Givendale Mr J Goodhart 368817 Mrs M Stephens 01262 678153

St Martin, Hayton Mrs E Thackray 304317

St Mary, Huggate Mrs R Braithwaite 01377 288422 Mrs S Dale 01377 288233

All Saints, Londesborough Mrs J Fletcher 01430 873554

St Margaret, Millington Mrs S Sheard 304783

St James, Nunburnholme Dr A Henworth 302156

All Saints, Pocklington Mr B Myerscough 303331 Mr N Laws 304307

All Saints, Shiptonthorpe Mr S Jones 01430 871612 Mrs F Bailey 01430 873318

FROM THE VICARAGE FEBRUARY 2018

LENT

The season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday 14th February and takes us on a journey which culminates in the joyous celebration of Easter on Sunday 1st April. It is a season which is special in so many ways. It is an opportunity to focus on our spiritual life and ask searching questions about our faith and beliefs. It is traditionally a time for reflection, fasting, repentance and seeking to amend our ways. The intention is to grow in our faith and to seek to do God's will. How do we do this? During the 40 days of Lent it is helpful to start each day with prayer, just being still in God's presence and asking for God's guidance through the day. A reading of the bible can help us to focus our attention on God. There are lots of books with readings and prayers for Lent. The season is based on the experience of Jesus in the wilderness when he was put to the test and tempted but resisted by strenthening his resolve with passages from scripture. We can follow his example. What are the temptations in your life which distract you from doing what you know is the right thing? What are your weaknesses? What are you doing which you would like to refrain from? What are the things you would most like to start doing which would improve your love of others and of God? Perhaps start by doing a good deed for someone you know who is in need of some help at this time, a visit, a day out, invitation round for a coffee or a meal. Perhaps read one of the Gospels in the bible or the letters of Paul? Attend church more often and go to the Lent Course which this year is being led by the Bishop of Selby. These start on Thursday 1st March at the Pocklington Christian Fellowship and continue the week after on Wednesdays until Wednesday 28th March. The Bishop will lead us in a study of the Gospel of Matthew. Somtimes it is suggested giving up something for Lent, cakes, chocolate etc.. and giving the money saved to a charity of your choice. Do not miss out on the opportunity which we have during Lent to take a fresh look at your spiritual life and faith. Geoff

JOURNEYS INTO PRAYER Tony & Pam Burdon

In January we explained that we would like to offer a short thought about different ways of praying throughout this year and an accompanying prayer exercise for each month. This month we find ourselves moving rapidly towards Lent with Ash Wednesday falling on February 14th, also the feast day of St. Valentine! Lent is an opportunity for self-examination and traditionally for 'giving up'! This time of the year is a time for spring-cleaning and perhaps for some late winter pruning in our gardens, so plenty of ways to reflect on our life in God.

We begin this reflection with a short passage from John chapter 15: 'I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.'

The following words are taken from 'Woven into Prayer' by Angela Ashwin: 'These words of Jesus invite us to allow God to prune us, so that we may be more fruitful and creative for him.I ask God to show me ways in which he wants to prune me. Do I need to let go of: old grudges? habitual negative thoughts about someone or something? something in my lifestyle that damages me? too much concern about life or work? overdependence on the good opinion of others? or....?'

These words are very personal and we suggest that prayer, especially during Lent, should also be very practical. It should relate to our dealings with and valuing of the world around us. So we also offer the following exercise: When you get back from town with your shopping, put it out and look at it for a few moments. Where does it come from? How has it reached your table? Who has profited most from your purchases? How is it packaged? Is there anything you can do to change any of this for the better? For example: It may cost a little more but you could choose to have local milk delivered in glass bottles. You could buy a large pack of paper bags and take some with you to the shops, try to buy loose fruit and veg and put them in your paper bags. If you are a meat-eater, you could take a tub to the butcher for your meat! In these ways we could prune some plastic! It might also be possible to prune some petrol by using the bus (or our feet!) for some of our journeys.

These are some practical ways of putting prayer into action and changing our world just a little for the better.

And a prayer to conclude this exercise: Lord, show me what I am grasping too tightly, and give me the grace to let go. All my hope is in you. You are my strength, my delight, my rest and my peace. Amen

We wish you an interesting and creative Lent. Some of these changes may continue long after Lent ends!

The meeting on Tuesday, 2nd January was our Social Afternoon. Although we were low on numbers it was still a fun afternoon. We started with a glass of sherry which got us in the mood for the first quiz. We then had cake and some nibbles before the second quiz. Thanks go to Dot & Ken Townley for setting the quizzes. After using our brains and having fun we all said the grace together and a good afternoon was held by all. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, 6th February and will be the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. Please make every effort to attend. A Date for your Diary - Soup Lunches start on Tuesday, 20th February. With many Blessings Josie Penter

Pocklington Singers next concert will be on Saturday 3rd March at 7.30 pm and will be held at All Saints Parish Church, Pocklington. The main work to be performed will be Faure’s Requiem, with other supporting pieces. Tickets

can be obtained from 3 weeks before the concert, at the Church Office, or Readwell and Wright, the book shop in Pocklington, or on the night at the door.

The deadline for the March edition is Friday 16th February and copy should be emailed to: davidcbrown5@hotmail. com

A brilliant television series by Rodney Nicholson

A really good series is currently being broadcast on BBC2 on Friday evenings at 8.30pm: “A Vicar’s life”. Featuring, so far, three country parishes in Herefordshire, the programme gives a very positive view of the Church and its clergy. The first episode showed a young married vicar arranging, then performing the wedding of a hairdresser who was well known in the market town; a female married vicar ministering to a former churchwarden terminally ill with cancer; and a single older vicar (with his two spaniels) coping with a burglary and damaged registers in one of his rural parishes. All three vicars came across as faithful priests joyfully following their vocation, as people of prayer and warmth and also as well-trained clergy who had wisdom and common sense. Anyone given to sneering at the Church would, if they were honest, have to admit that there’s plenty of life in the Christian community. If you missed the first episodes, it’s worthwhile downloading them. A similar series screened over several years was “Island Parish”, “Seaside Parish”, “Falklands Islands parish” and others. They were all good and showed Anglican and also Methodist and Roman Catholic priests and ministers. They too were positive portrayals of the Church, particularly showing the connections with local life. Among the people featured on The Scilly Isles programmes was a German vet, Heike, who tried to save a Guide Dog who spent his first year with us as a puppy. The black Labrador, Otis, went on to be a much- loved companion to a blind teacher in Nottingham. We kept in touch but sadly he died of cancer on Scilly, in spite of Heike’s best efforts, just before we had planned to visit them. Some people enthused about the “Rev.” Series, with Tom Hollander, because it tackled real and controversial issues, but we found the characters unsatisfactory, particularly the archdeacon, and did not appreciate the bad language. On similar lines was The Vicar of Dibley. In spite of some unnecessary bad language and the confusion of the parish council with the PCC, it was funny and had some good story lines. The fictional vicar, Geraldine Granger, modelled herself on one of the first women priests, Joy Carroll, whom we have heard speak at Greenbelt. Church drama a generation ago was funny but based the stories around well- meaning but rather incompetent clergy. There was “Our Man at St Mark’s” in 1963, followed by “All Gas and Gaiters” in 1966 in which Derek Nimmo made his name as the bungling Bishop’s Chaplain, the Revd Mervyn Noote. He went on to appear in “Oh, Brother” and “Oh, Father”. In real life Derek Nimmo was a practising Christian and I once heard him speak at a Christian event. So, it’s all rather fun but we can genuinely rejoice at some of the good portrayals of the Church and the outworkings of the faith as seen on some of these programmes and especially on Songs of Praise which gives some marvellous Christian testimonies. The early time and changes of time can be infuriating but that is no problem for those who can record or use Catch-up. Many more people hear the Christian message, or some aspect of 7 it, on television and radio than will be present in church, so that dioceses need press and communication officers to pass on good news to the media. Most dioceses have been doing this for a long time. After all, Jesus was the Word made flesh, so that Christians need to grasp every opportunity to communicate the good news of God’s love in Christ.

Welcome back to Linda Munt Former vicar of Market Weighton, the Revd Linda Munt, has been appointed Part-time Priest for the Garrowby Hill benefice. After retiring from Market Weighton to care for her sick father, Linda took up an appointment at Attercliffe and Darnall in her native Sheffield, which she relinquished in 2015. For five years she has been married to Mike Kavanagh, once Chaplain at Full Sutton Prison, who retires as Chaplain General and Archdeacon to the Prison Service this year. Linda and (when home) Mike live in Scarborough with Maddy, their 8-year-old black Labrador dog, whom they enjoy walking- particularly on the beach. No licensing date has been fixed as Linda first needs a home into which to move.

SNOWDROP VISITS

Snowdrop Sundays at Londesborough will take place on Sundays 11th and 18th February ALSO At Devonshire Mill, Canal Lane, Pocklington on Sunday 18th February. Home of Chris and Sue Bond Proceeds to the National Garden scheme charities Refreshments –tea and cakes

The 2018 Flying Man Festival is geared up to go on Sat/Sun 12/13 May with most of the old favourites and a few new additions to the programme this year.

The events and stalls in and around All Saints will again be at the heart of the festival, with the popular cafe as usual surrounded by exhibitions and activities, while outside on the Pavement the childrens' rides are planned for both days. In a tweak to the standard schedule the Flying Man concert will be in All Saints on Saturday evening this time.

New for 2018, the Flying Man committee has organised the inaugural 'Flying Man Challenge' for a week prior to the festival. It's a 50 mile sponsored walk from the birthplace of Thomas Pelling, the 18th century acrobat who inspired the event, setting off from the church at his home village of Burton Stather in north Lincolnshire, and finishing where it all ended outside All Saints, Pocklington. The walk is broken down to two or three sections over two or three days - Burton Stather to the Humber Bridge, over the bridge to South Cave, then along the Wolds Way to within sight of Pocklington church tower. It is hoped to make the final leg a shorter family walk of 3-5 miles on Saturday morning, walking from Nunburnholme or Kilnwick Percy churches and arriving at All Saints for the opening of the festival.

Any individuals who would like to attempt the full 50-mile walk, or families/children who want to join the last leg on Saturday morning 12 May can contact Julie Ryder on 01759 318640, email [email protected] for more details.

Staying with the Flying Man Festival's aerial theme (almost!) another new introduction planned for 2018 is a duck race on Flying Man Saturday, with people able to buy to race along Pocklington beck from London Street, under the town, emerging into view behind the church and finishing on West Green, more details to follow.

Once again the 102 Squadron Association is planning its annual reunion to coincide with Flying Man weekend.

Offers of help for stalls and activities, on the day or setting up beforehand, will be welcome. If you can give a couple of hours during the weekend, or have a prize or item or promise for the Silent Auction, please let the Flying Man committee chair, Sue Currier, know on [email protected] or via the church office. The Flying Man Festival remains the church's biggest single annual fundraiser, and the small Flying Man committee needs all the help it can get. Phil Gilbank 9

Ash Wednesday Prayer. (With apologies to the BCP)

O Lord, create in me a new heart, As in contrition I come to Your throne, And before Your holiness kneel Broken with the burden of sin I so shamefully own. O Lord, wash me that I may be clean, Cleanse me from this impure mould, These bacteria of sin which oppress my soul And would of all my being take hold.

O search these dark depths with your laser light That I may be rid of all that is mean, And so be acceptable in Your sight As Your mercy, forgiveness, and love intervene. For You do not despise a contrite heart But would heal me and make me whole. Dear Lord, who seeks truth in the inward part, Please wash me that I shall be healed and made whole. Paddy. Humour – yes; trivialising – no by Rodney Nicholson Humour can be a great blessing. It lightens the atmosphere, prevents us from taking ourselves too seriously and gives a sparkle to many a sermon or address. Humour is a gift of the God who surely himself can laugh with his creation, and whose Son Jesus Christ is the Lord of all joy. That said, it is important not to make light of issues that matter. As an example, for many years my former diocese held a clergy conference every three years, until the event got too expensive. In my earlier years the conference ended with a concert, or revue, in which some clergy with theatrical talents made gentle fun of others and took a swipe at the diocese. It could be hilariously funny but the Bishop and his council decided to stop it. Many clergy complained at the concert’s finishing but I personally agreed. The same people were always the objects of humour, I thought, added to which it was a mistake to make the conference’s finale one big joke. We were there for a spiritual and serious purpose. 10

I remember the vicar with whom I first trained writing in someone’s reference, “She has a sense of humour but takes a serious view of life”. That seems to me the right balance: see the funny side but don’t trivialise what should be taken seriously. I have known one or two clergy with a great gift for telling funny stories, some of which I have repeated myself. Such clergy usually have other qualities than just their ability to amuse. They may well have faced personal suffering and they certainly want to point people to Jesus. The problem is that some congregations love to be entertained, with the result that they forget the serious points but remember all the jokes. “The Revd X is a real scream”, someone says. The Christian gospel, however, is not one big laugh. Yes, Jesus shared humour, told stories which had a funny element and could enjoy a wedding feast, wine included. But he came for the profoundly serious purpose of dealing with human sin, which cost him his death on the cross. This is no joke. It cannot be reduced to the level of “Let’s sing something cheerful”. Talking of singing, there is a tendency to like bright, happy hymns like “Give me joy in my heart” and “All things bright and beautiful”, though some can’t stand the latter. That is fine so long as we also appreciate hymns/songs that centre on the suffering of Christ and also the pain of the world – as do hymns by the contemporary writer, John Bell. Steven Croft, now Bishop of Oxford, made this comment regarding the wedding guests in Matthew 22 who made light of their invitation. “In a world and a culture that prizes humour, it is easy to laugh but not so easy to be serious and sober. But in the face of the grief and suffering in this world, that is what our faith – and Christian maturity - demand.” In December 2008 an Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, threw his shoes at President George W. Bush as an act of protest against lives lost in his country. Bush naturally ducked, then made a joke about the shoes being size 10. But it wasn’t a joke. Muntadhar knew he would be arrested, roughly treated and imprisoned, for he had been previously tortured by the Iraqi authorities. In the event, he was released nine months later but, at the time, he was acting in a costly way. Bush, by joking, showed misunderstanding of the other’s feelings. He trivialised what mattered hugely to someone else. Inappropriate jokes can do that. ------The Flower Festival is to mark the Centenary of the End of World War 1 .The title is Remember Rejoice The festival will open with a special preview evening on Friday 14th September and open to the public from Saturday 15th to Tuesday 18th .Full details will be announced later. In the spring edition of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies magazine -the first advertisement for the festival has been published and this is shown below. The festival is being coordinated by a planning group made up of Church members and members of Pocklington Flower Club and a dedicated web site is being set up to cover the occasion. 11

February Services in the Pocklington Group of Churches Burnby 4th 9.15 am Family Communion (CW) Great Givendale 11th 9.15 am Morning Prayer (BCP) 25th 9.15 am Holy Communion (BCP) 25th 12.15 pm Baptism Hayton 4th 9.15 am Holy Communion (CW) 18th 9.15 am Morning Prayer (CW) Huggate 4th 9.15 am All Age Worship 11th 9.15 am Morning Prayer (CW) 18th 9.15 am Holy Communion (CW) 25th 9.15 am Morning Prayer (CW) Londesborough 11th 10.45 am Holy Communion (BCP) 25th 10.45 am Morning Prayer (CW) Millington 11th 9.15 am Holy Communion (BCP) 25th 9.15 am Morning Prayer (CW) Nunburnholme 4th 10.45 am All Age Worship 18th 10.45 am Family Communion (CW)

Pocklington 4th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) 4th 10.45 am Family Communion (CW) 4th 4.00 pm Special -Candlemass 11th 10.45 am Sung Eucharist (CW) 11th 6.00 pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Choral Evensong 14th 10.00 am Holy Communion (Ash Wednesday) 18th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) 18th 10.45 am Sung Eucharist (CW) 25th 10.45 am Sung Eucharist (CW) Baptism follows

Shiptonthorpe 4th 10.45 am Holy Communion (BCP) Bishop John 11th 10.45 am All Age Worship 18th 10.45 am Morning Prayer (BCP) 25th 10.45 am Family Communion (CW)

PARISH REGISTERS

We have welcomed into the Christian Family through Baptism:

31st December Thea Isabelle Milner (Pocklington)

We have united in Marriage through the love of God

We have commended to God’s sure keeping with thanksgiving: 20th December Amy Swann (Pocklington) 27th December Margaret Carole Bruton (Octon) 11th January John Heseltine (Pocklington) 19th January Helen Carlton (Pocklington)

PASTORAL SERVICES Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

To enquire about arrangements for these services Please call at the Parish Office in the Church or phone 01759 306045 Office hours are Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1 pm Scale of fees and charges for 2018 Baptisms There is no fee for a service of Baptism Certificate of Baptism, if required. £14.00

Weddings Publication of Banns. £29.00 Certificate of Banns, if required. £14.00 Marriage Service. £441.00 Certificate of Marriage at registration. £4.00 Verger £32.00 Organist £80.00 Bells £80.00 Heating £55.00

Please note that an additional charge will be made if extra facilities are required. We regret that it is not always possible to come back into the Church for additional photographs after the service. Funerals

Funeral service in Church, Cemetery or Crematorium £190.00 Verger £32.00 Organist £80.00 Heating £55.00

A Prayer for the life of our Parishes and Churches O God ,make the door of this church wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out envy ,pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block for children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong to turn back the tempter’s power. God make the doorway of this house the entrance to your eternal kingdom. Amen

Parish Church of All Saints, Pocklington Church office 01759 306045 Office hours are Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1 pm Office @allsaintspock.plus.com Electoral Roll Officer Doreen Pea 305552 Flower Team Contact Ann Theakston 302731 Little Saints Leader Kirsty Brooks 307453 Magazine Editor David Brown 305521 Magazine Distribution Rowena Protheroe 304984 Mothers Union Secretary Josie Penter 303062 Organist and Choirmaster Michael Cooper 305929 Parish Administrators Sue Currier and Carole Laws 306045 Pastoral Coordinator Bronnie Broadhurst 307479 PCC Secretary Sue Currier 0740 1133219 Planned Giving /Gift Aid Sue Currier 0740 1133219 Treasurer David Brown 305521 Verger Ian Ryder 318640 For all Church and Meeting Room bookings Contact the Parish Administrator at the Church Office Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm

For more information about the Church, please visit our website www.pocklingtongroupofchurches.org